Spirits of Speyside

Glenfiddich Distillery (Dufftown) offers two tours- a free behind-the-scenes tour or, for the true whisky fan, a connoisseurs’ tour which includes a tutored nosing!

The Balvenie Distillery (Dufftown) Is sister to the Glenfiddich and offers exclusive tours to small groups (no more than 8 people). The tour involves a lot of walking and there are stairs so mobility- impaired visitors may find this difficult.

The Macallan (Craigellachie) visitor centre is on a hillside, overlooking the Spey and has the smallest spirit stills on Speyside.

Glenfarclas Distillery (Ballindalloch) has been in the hands of the Grant family for more than 150 years and is one of the few remaining independent distilleries.

Strathisla Distillery (Keith) is now considered one of the most picturesque distilleries in the whole of Scotland!

Aberlour Distillery (Aberlour) is located at the junction of the Lour and Spey rivers and nature combines with tradition and craftsmanship to create the spirit of Aberlour.

Glen Grant (Rothes) You can witness Major Grant’s legacy on a guided tour and stroll through the delightful Woodland Garden to the heather thatched pavilion and tumbling waterfall.

Ballindalloch Distillery is the newest and Scotland’s first single Estate distillery which will start producing 2014/15. Tours are by appointment for up to six people and there is a charge.

In addition to these distilleries, you can also visit The Speyside Cooperage at Craigellachie where each year, around 100,000 casks – barrels, hogsheads, butts and puncheons are made or repaired and sold throughout the world.

For those who prefer a drop of mother’s ruin to the amber nectar, why not check out the Scottish Gin Trail?

This is a relatively new attraction designed to highlight Scotland’s burgeoning gin production.
Few people know that more than 70% of UK gin is produced north of the border and with distilleries in Fochabers, Cromdale and Aviemore, Speyside is certainly playing its part. Locally grown botanicals give them their distinctive and smooth taste and we have made the decision to personally sample them and make sure they are of sufficiently high-quality to recommend them to our guests – it’s tough but someone has to do it!